FOUNDATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION

1
FOUNDATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION
The American Experience
State Constitutions
British Tradition
U.S. Constitution
The Enlightenment
Athenian Democracy
2
Athenian Democracy (500-300 B.C.)

• Democracies vs. Republics
• Origins of Athenian Democracy

3
Athenian Democracy (500-300 B.C.)

• Structure
• Assembly (up to 6,000 people)
• Decided all important issues
• All free males
• Leader selected by lot for each meeting

4
Athenian Democracy (500-300 B.C.)

• Structure
• Council of 500
• Executive committee of the assembly
• Leader selected by lot for each meeting
• One year term
• Serve only twice in a lifetime

5
Athenian Democracy (500-300 B.C.)

• Structure
• Magistrates
• Ran the government on a day-to-day basis
• Selected by lot and served one year
• Courts
• Juries selected by lot
• 201 on each jury
• Decision by majority vote

6
Athenian Democracy (500-300 B.C.)

• Structure
• Generals
• Elected by the people
• Ostracism
• Majority of negative votes
• 10 year exile

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Benefits of Athenian democracy?

• Views of people implemented
• No lifetime politicians
• Checks and balances
• People well-informed

8
Problems

• Success determined by the virtue of the
  people
• Many excluded from participation
• Women
• Slaves
• Parents not Athenian
• Best for small, homogeneous societies